Websites

A Guide To Choosing Your Website Width

WMF — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:14:03 -0400

When having a website designed it's not uncommon for business owners to overlook the fact that websites do come in different sizes (widths) and what width you want for your own site is one important decision to be made before the design and build process commences.

Autoresponder

KarenSkidmore — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 05:47:44 -0500

An autoresponder is a nifty piece of software that automatically sends out an email in response to someone submitting their email or making an online purchase.

It can send out a single email or a pre-arranged series of emails depending on your requirements.

Direct selling: how to make it work

Antonia — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 05:54:14 -0500

Direct selling gives you the chance to run a small business that is set up for you with low start up costs. Antonia Chitty of Family Friendly Working offers some advice on how to make your direct selling business a success:

1. Talk to your manager about ways to sell your products. This will vary for each company. Think about who will use your products and where you might find them. According to the Direct Selling Association, about 85 per cent of sales are made in people’s homes.

Explode your website traffic with simple niche articles

WMF — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 06:11:38 -0400

For your business website to be successful, you need to get large amounts of targeted traffic to your website. There are numerous ways to do this, of course, including pay-per-click campaigns, SEO (search engine optimisation), email marketing and ezine advertising.

Go North!

Jane C Woods — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:41:08 -0400

About a year ago I was reappraising every thing about my business; not because it was NOT doing well but because it was! I was so busy I was travelling hither and thither across the UK and getting exhausted. It was great financially but one of the reasons I became self employed was to have a better work life balance and this wasn't it!

Graphic

FionaHumberstone — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 07:48:28 -0500

It’s easy to confuse your ‘graphic’ (or icon) with your logo. Think of your graphic as just one element of your logo – like the Nike swoosh or McDonald’s golden arches. Two very strong graphical elements/ icons or devices which enable the reader to identify your business at a glance.

Icons are key elements of your logo – they will create an instant identity, engage your target audience and create a real impression about your business. But that doesn’t mean that your text can be an afterthought. The strongest logos always consider the font, layout and colours as well.

Headline

TraceyDooley — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 07:51:07 -0500

Marketing guru Gene Schwartz wrote: "Your headline has only one job – to stop your prospect and compel him to read the second sentence of your ad."

You can apply that to any marketing piece you write, including print ads, brochures, emails, web pages, letters and more. Without a compelling headline most readers will stop right there, and then discard the rest. And your message will nose-dive into oblivion.

I can't live without...Google Alerts

Antonia — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 02:57:36 -0400

If you have not yet signed up to Google Alerts, you are missing out on one of the easiest ways to see if your promotional efforts are working. It is ideal for business owners or anyone in PR or SEO.

Simply enter your business name - or if you work with clients, the name of your client’s company - and you will get daily alerts to new occurances of the brand on the internet.

Online marketing

JanePuddicombe — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 08:43:44 -0500

Online marketing is, quite simply, the act of getting your message across using the internet or email.

Unlike TV, Billboard, Cold calling and other forms of traditional direct marketing, the internet consumer usually shows an interest in your product or service by searching for it, thus qualifying themselves an a potential customer. In this manner you can concentrate your marketing efforts (and budget) on the hottest prospects and not spend time and money on a less targeted "scattergun" approach.

RSS feed

KarenSkidmore — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 09:18:13 -0500

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication and allows new information from particular websites, such as blogs, news sites and podcasts, to be updated in to a central place online.

For example. a RSS feed is used to alert readers of blogs that new articles have been posted. The blog reader does not have to visit each individual blog but can read all new articles from a central online resource.

Subhead

TraceyDooley — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 09:45:53 -0500

A subhead is a type of mini headline. It can be used to help communicate your message, make it more compelling and highlight important points.

Although usually appearing below or above a main headline to support or expand upon the headline concept, subheads are also particularly useful for targeting the online audience to break up text and emphasise important points. Most web surfers are busy and have short attention spans. They scan pages and are quick to move on if they don’t see something interesting or useful on any given web or blog page.

Successful Marketing Strategies in Web 2.0

WishWriters — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 04:59:43 -0400

A little revolution now and then is a good thing. Thomas Jefferson told us three centuries ago. Web 2.0 is a revolution in the way that potential customers learn about products and make buying decisions. If you successfully use the power of Web 2.0 to support your internet marketing, then this revolution can be a good thing for your business. So, what has changed with the advent of Web 2.0 and how can you take advantage of this revolution.

Web copy

TraceyDooley — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 08:44:34 -0500

Web copy is a form of direct-response advertising. The purpose of web copy is to generate customers, business leads, sales, and consequently profits.

Good web copy has the ability to convert web browsers into buyers. As such, it is a specialised skill, but one that can be learned.

Do not confuse web copy with web content. The latter is simply words that are put online to entertain, inform, or educate readers.

What comes first – branding or website?

WMF — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 05:38:21 -0400

By Fiona Humberstone, http://www.guildfordprinting.com

When you're starting a business or revisiting your marketing, where do you start? With your website or with your logo design? When budgets are tight I can understand the logic behind starting with your website - websites can start generating you visible income immediately, they're an essential part of your marketing mix and if you can get the website right you can use the income generated to refine other areas of your marketing.